(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading "It won't do to wait," remarked the rancher gravely, "and he will be as able to do without as with us."
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Now that everything was ready, Mr. Starr felt anxious about the absent Jared Plummer.
the state of being absent
From this reading His continued absence gave ground for fear that harm had befallen him, but his friends were powerless to give him help.
not being in a specified place
From this reading Now that everything was ready, Mr. Starr felt anxious about the absent Jared Plummer.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
eagerly desirous
From this reading Now that everything was ready, Mr. Starr felt anxious about the absent Jared Plummer.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "It won't do to wait," remarked the rancher gravely, "and he will be as able to do without as with us."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
befallenverbUS /bəˈfɑːlən/
inflected form of “befall” — become of; happen to
From this reading His continued absence gave ground for fear that harm had befallen him, but his friends were powerless to give him help.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
Brophy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His continued absence gave ground for fear that harm had befallen him, but his friends were powerless to give him help.
without stop or interruption
From this reading His continued absence gave ground for fear that harm had befallen him, but his friends were powerless to give him help.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "It won't do to wait," remarked the rancher gravely, "and he will be as able to do without as with us."
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Now that everything was ready, Mr. Starr felt anxious about the absent Jared Plummer.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading His continued absence gave ground for fear that harm had befallen him, but his friends were powerless to give him help.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Now that everything was ready, Mr. Starr felt anxious about the absent Jared Plummer.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His continued absence gave ground for fear that harm had befallen him, but his friends were powerless to give him help.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading His continued absence gave ground for fear that harm had befallen him, but his friends were powerless to give him help.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading His continued absence gave ground for fear that harm had befallen him, but his friends were powerless to give him help.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading His continued absence gave ground for fear that harm had befallen him, but his friends were powerless to give him help.
in a grave and sober manner
From this reading "It won't do to wait," remarked the rancher gravely, "and he will be as able to do without as with us."
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading His continued absence gave ground for fear that harm had befallen him, but his friends were powerless to give him help.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His continued absence gave ground for fear that harm had befallen him, but his friends were powerless to give him help.
any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
From this reading His continued absence gave ground for fear that harm had befallen him, but his friends were powerless to give him help.
hasteningverbUS /ˈheɪsənɪŋ/
-ing form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading His continued absence gave ground for fear that harm had befallen him, but his friends were powerless to give him help.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His continued absence gave ground for fear that harm had befallen him, but his friends were powerless to give him help.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His continued absence gave ground for fear that harm had befallen him, but his friends were powerless to give him help.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It won't do to wait," remarked the rancher gravely, "and he will be as able to do without as with us."
JaredverbUS /ˈdʒerɪd/
past form of “jar” — be incompatible; be or come into conflict
From this reading Now that everything was ready, Mr. Starr felt anxious about the absent Jared Plummer.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
the act of departing
From this reading LEAVING THE RANCH.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Now that everything was ready, Mr. Starr felt anxious about the absent Jared Plummer.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now that everything was ready, Mr. Starr felt anxious about the absent Jared Plummer.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
Plummer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that everything was ready, Mr. Starr felt anxious about the absent Jared Plummer.
powerlessadjectiveUS /ˈpaʊərləs/
lacking power
From this reading His continued absence gave ground for fear that harm had befallen him, but his friends were powerless to give him help.
promptverbUS /prɑːmpt/
give an incentive for action
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
RANCHnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading LEAVING THE RANCH.
ranchernounUS /ˈræntʃər/
a person who owns or operates a ranch
From this reading "It won't do to wait," remarked the rancher gravely, "and he will be as able to do without as with us."
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Now that everything was ready, Mr. Starr felt anxious about the absent Jared Plummer.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading "It won't do to wait," remarked the rancher gravely, "and he will be as able to do without as with us."
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
StarrnounUS /stɑːr/
rock star and drummer for the Beatles (born in 1940)
From this reading Now that everything was ready, Mr. Starr felt anxious about the absent Jared Plummer.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now that everything was ready, Mr. Starr felt anxious about the absent Jared Plummer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LEAVING THE RANCH.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
Tim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in hastening to the house.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "It won't do to wait," remarked the rancher gravely, "and he will be as able to do without as with us."
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading "It won't do to wait," remarked the rancher gravely, "and he will be as able to do without as with us."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now that everything was ready, Mr. Starr felt anxious about the absent Jared Plummer.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His continued absence gave ground for fear that harm had befallen him, but his friends were powerless to give him help.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "It won't do to wait," remarked the rancher gravely, "and he will be as able to do without as with us."
in the company of; together with
From this reading "It won't do to wait," remarked the rancher gravely, "and he will be as able to do without as with us."
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "It won't do to wait," remarked the rancher gravely, "and he will be as able to do without as with us."
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It won't do to wait," remarked the rancher gravely, "and he will be as able to do without as with us."
